Government Office for Science: ANNUAL REVIEW 2010-11
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The Government Office for Science: ANNUAL REVIEW 2010-11 GO-Science Annual Review 2010-11 1 Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Foreword ............................................................................................................................................. 2 About us .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Role of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser ................................................................................ 3 GO-Science at a glance ...................................................................................................................... 5 2010 - 2011 Highlights ........................................................................................................................ 7 Working across government ........................................................................................................... 10 Civil contingencies ............................................................................................................................ 10 Natural hazards................................................................................................................................. 11 Health and biotechnology ................................................................................................................. 12 Food, water and energy .................................................................................................................... 13 Resources for science ...................................................................................................................... 15 Science in Government ................................................................................................................... 16 Guidance and advice ........................................................................................................................ 16 Science and Engineering Assurance ................................................................................................ 17 Completed reviews ........................................................................................................................... 17 Government Science and Engineering (GSE) .................................................................................. 18 GO-Science promotes joined-up working ......................................................................................... 19 Council for Science and Technology ............................................................................................. 21 Science in Parliament ...................................................................................................................... 23 A strategic approach to the future .................................................................................................. 24 Foresight programme ........................................................................................................................ 24 International engagement ................................................................................................................ 28 Representing the UK internationally ................................................................................................. 28 Annex: Key publications ................................................................................................................. 31 Annex: Acronyms ............................................................................................................................. 33 Further information .......................................................................................................................... 34 GO-Science Annual Review 2010-11 2 Foreword Science and engineering are critical both to the Government’s effective and timely response to today’s pressing issues and to its consideration of future priorities and policies. As Government Chief Scientific Adviser, I am responsible for ensuring that decision-makers at the highest levels in government have access to the very best advice and evidence from across the scientific and engineering disciplines. I am supported directly in this work by the Government Office for Science, and by the cross-government network of departmental Chief Scientific Advisers. During the period covered by this report, the Government Office for Science led and supported a wide range of cross-Whitehall efforts to address today’s global ‘Grand Challenges’. This included engaging with the development and delivery of policy and practical solutions in the areas of, for example, the challenges of food, energy and water security, increasing population and urbanisation. These challenges are intimately linked, and developing action with global partners to meet them will rightfully continue to demand our attention over the forthcoming year and beyond. The events of 2010-11 also served to demonstrate the Government's commitment to science and engineering underpinning the UK’s response to unforeseen civil contingencies. A Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies was activated on two occasions; following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in April 2010, and again in March 2011 following the incident at the Fukushima nuclear power station, Japan. Chaired by me, each SAGE comprised experts from within government, academia and industry, and provided advice to the Cabinet on the unfolding scenarios and action that might be taken. This report sets out these and other issues that my Office and I have been involved with over the past year, and shows science and engineering in government going from strength to strength. I have every confidence that this will continue. Professor Sir John Beddington GO-Science Annual Review 2010-11 3 About us he Government Office for Science supports the Government Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring that the UK Government uses the best science and engineering research and advice for policy Tdevelopment and delivery. Role of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser The Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), Professor Sir John Beddington, reports to the Prime Minister and, within the Civil Service, to the Cabinet Secretary. The GCSA advises Cabinet and works closely with the Minister for Universities and Science. The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) supports the GCSA and is located in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) but is semi-autonomous from it. The roles of the GCSA and of GO-Science are outlined in more detail in Box 1. Every major science-using department now has a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) post. CSAs work together under the GCSA’s leadership to address issues which cut across departments. CSAs also work closely with economists, statisticians, operational researchers and social researchers within and across departments. GO-Science Annual Review 2010-11 4 The GCSA’s role is to: To deliver this the GCSA and GO- Science: • provide scientific advice to the Prime • take a strategic overview of Minister and members of Cabinet departmental investment in science personally and research • advise the Prime Minister and • identify and drive forward cross- Cabinet on aspects of policy on cutting issues science, engineering and technology • scope the future of issues where • assure and improve the use of developments in science, science and engineering evidence in engineering and technology will have Government a significant impact • lead the science and engineering • act on security and counter- profession in the Civil Service terrorism, working closely with the Home and Cabinet Offices, for • work with the Heads of the other analytical professions in Government example on Olympic security to deliver on integrated evidence • lead on civil contingencies, including base swine flu, the effects of Icelandic • engage internationally on science volcanic eruptions, and the nuclear and engineering issues to help incident at the Fukushima plant, achieve UK objectives Japan • • strengthen relations between engage in global environmental and resource challenges including research communities and policy climate change, energy, biomass, makers food, water and demography • strengthen confidence in climate science • manage the relationship between scientific advisers and Government • scope potential future developments in technology GO-Science Annual Review 2010-11 5 GO-Science at a glance GCSA and Private Office Foresight Science in Government Horizon Foresight Global Issues Strategy, Skills & Scanning Projects Secretariat Foresight Foresight uses the latest scientific and other evidence, combined with futures analysis, to tackle complex issues and help policy makers take decisions affecting our future. Foresight’s work makes a critical contribution to meeting important challenges of the 21st century – such as food security, flooding and obesity. Foresight teams undertake in-depth studies examining major issues up to 100 years in the future1 and the Foresight Horizon Scanning Centre2 carries out short projects looking at discrete issues across the entire public policy spectrum. Science in Government Global Issues The GO-Science Global Issues teams help the GCSA to ensure that major policy decisions are well-handled by the Government and that science and engineering evidence is properly